Governor’s proposal to reform CDE echoes CSBA’s call for greater state alignment and accountability

Governor's proposal to reform CDE echoes CSBA's call for greater state alignment and accountability <_sc3a_dot _xmlns3a_sc="http://www.sitecore.net/sc">

Proposal correctly diagnoses lack of state-level coherence as major issue and opens door to more comprehensive solution that supports local school districts in driving student performance and closing achievement gaps

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2026) - The logic behind Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposal to unite the State Board of Education with the California Department of Education (CDE) and reshape the role of the state superintendent of public instruction (SSPI) echoes the arguments CSBA has long made for reforming the state's education apparatus to move beyond disconnected and sometimes conflicting programs, policies and budget decisions.

While an examination of the bill language is required before CSBA can endorse this proposal, the association has consistently called for increased state-level accountability and a more cohesive education system aligning the Governor, Legislature and state agencies around a single goal: driving overall student performance and closing the achievement gap.

The Governor's proposal validates this approach and shows the administration shares a similar diagnosis of the problem, although its solution is not as comprehensive as CSBA's prescription. Beyond transforming the role of the SSPI, California needs a state-level operations and support plan that establishes a dashboard for evaluating the effectiveness of the state's systems and policies and provides clear goals, benchmarks and timelines for how state agencies will better assist local educational agencies in accelerating the performance of struggling student groups.

Gov. Newsom's final budget can mark a turning point away from fragmented initiatives and short-term fixes and toward a coherent, aligned, forward-looking and accountable state education system that genuinely supports local leaders and delivers for California students. CSBA stands ready to partner with the administration to build a nation-leading reciprocal accountability model, one where the state is as accountable for student outcomes as the school districts and county offices of education it oversees.